INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY SUMMARY: Councillors noted the report which showed 17 dwellings had been approved in March, including 10 single dwellings and 7 other dwellings. Overall Council approved 48 Development Applications in the month of March 2025 with a total financial value of $42,994,321.
Councillors drew attention to a Mixed-Use Development (Health Services Facility) on 40 Cobbora Road, which was approved by Western Region Planning Panel on Tuesday and the DA for the Temporary Worker’s Accommodation on the corner of Boundary and Sheraton Road, which has been out on public exhibition for the past 28 days and is still to be approved by the Western Region Planning Panel.
CONFIDENTIAL: JOHN GILBERT WATER TREATMENT PLANT, DUBBO – PREPARATION OF CONCEPT STUDY FOR REPLACEMENT OF CLEAR WATER TANKS – PROPOSED ENGAGEMENT: Council will engage NSW Public Works to undertake the concept study outlined in the report for a cost of $255,865.50.
CONFIDENTIAL: SAXA ROAD RECONSTRUCTION – TENDER RECOMMENDATION: Council awarded the contract for the reconstruction of Section 1 and Section 2 of Saxa Road, excluding additional optional, to Robson Civil Projects Pty Ltd, for the amount of $3,901,142.07.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
WATERWAY SAFETY: Councillors recommended the CEO engage an independent third-party specialist to conduct a risk assessment of Council’s formal inland waterway access points and provide recommendations to address any identified issues.
Council will also consider an allocation of $10,000 from the proposed Community Culture and Places budget as part of its review of public comment to the draft 2025/2026 Operational Plan and Budget with the CEO to work with an independent third-party specialist to build a proposal for an inland waterway safety program for a targeted community audience and report back to Council for consideration.
EXISTING AND FUTURE STRATEGIC MECHANISMS TO IMPROVE THE URBAN TREE CANOPY COVER WITHIN DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL: As part of the community feedback to the budget and Delivery program Councillors will consider increasing the level of funding for tree planting and maintenance programs to improve the health and canopy coverage of urban areas within the Dubbo local government area.
Council will explore external funding opportunities to increase its planting budget for urban trees and allocate $90,000 of the $2 million from funds provided by the Federal Labor Government to develop and adopt a Greening Strategy for the urban areas of the Local Government Area.
UPDATE OF TREE AUDITS AND TREE COSTS TO IMPROVE THE CANOPY COVER OF THE URBAN AREAS OF DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL: Councillors recommended the costings identified in the report would be considered while evaluating community feedback to the draft 2025/2026 budget and draft Delivery Program.
CONFIDENTIAL: TENDER - WAYFINDING AND RESERVE SIGNAGE: Council did not accept any tenders submitted due to the price and will enter into negotiations with the preferred supplier Tamari Ochre to align the scope of works to the available budget of $125,620 inc. GST.
CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE VILLAGES COMMITTEE - MEETING 14 APRIL 2025: Councillors noted the report which identified that Councillor P Toynton was elected as Chairperson of the committee for the Council term.
REPORT OF THE WELLINGTON TOWN COMMITTEE - MEETING 16 APRIL 2025: Councillors noted the report which identified that Councillor A Ryan was elected as Chairperson of the committee for the Council term.
COMMUNITY INSIGHTS 2025 CHECK-IN SURVEY RESULTS: Councillors noted the Community Insights Survey Check-in report and the Community Input Survey Check-in report. The report showed 79 per cent of those who took part in the Insights Survey Check-in were at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council over the last 12 months which was consistent with the 2024 survey results.
MONTHLY REPORTING SNAPSHOT FOR COUNCILLORS - APRIL 2025: Councillors noted the information in the report which provided a high-level snapshot regarding Council’s Financial Performance, Facility Performance and Customer Experience Performance.
REVIEW OF COMMUNITY FUNDING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY: Councillors recommended the draft Community Funding Framework and draft Council Policy – Financial Assistance be endorsed for the purpose of public exhibition, with formal feedback sought from 9am Monday, 2 June. A further report outlining the results of the public exhibition will be brought to Council in July 2025 as well as a report detailing the finalised Community Funding Applicant Guide, assessment and evaluation matrix and acquittal and return benefits processes.
PROPOSED VILLAGE ROADSHOW PROGRAM 2025: Councillors recommended the endorsement of the proposed Village Roadshow Program and nominated the delivery of the program be completed on a Tuesday evening over a number of months and completed by November 2025. The dates of best fit will be canvassed with Councillors and further consultation will be undertaken with the Villages Committee and following support from community representatives, venue and transport arrangements will be progressed.
LAND CLASSIFICATION - ST BRIGID’S CIRCUIT, DUBBO: Councillors recommended that upon acquisition and completion of the public notification provisions that the land be classified as ‘operational land’ in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993.
CONFIDENTIAL: TROY RAIL DEVIATION PROJECT – UPDATE: Council will proceed with the purchase of five lots of land from the Transport Asset Manager of NSW.